Gen. John Glover and his Marblehead regiment in the revolutionary war : a paper read before the Marblehead historical society, May 14, 1903

GEN. JOHN GLOVER

AND HIS

JVIaS^.

MABBLBHEAI) BEQIMENT

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From painting in possession of Mrs. Henry E. Waitc.

GEN. JOHN GLOVER

AND HIS

MARBLEHEAD REGIMENT

IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

A PAPER READ BEFORE THE

MARBLEHEAD HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MAY 14, 1903

NATHAN P.^^ SANBORN ^'f* /m mT

PRKSIDRNT OF THK «;OrTRTV i ITS » «JS| M / f^ '

0d'

PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY

PUBLISHED BY THE SOCIETY tj) //

1903 ^ ^

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S

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PREFACE.

In Marblehead for thirty years, and more,
after the Revolutionary War, the familiar
forms of the veterans of that hard and long
continued struggle were seen walking back
and forth at the heads of the wharves, on
Irving 's Hill, or at the street corners, and
the story they told of battles fought, of
marches and of camp life was as familiar,
throughout the town, to old and young, as
any household words. But it was so evenly
matched with the scenes of every day life,
the hazards and storms at sea, of spars carried
away and anchors lost and the vessel on
beam-ends, of sailing to the Banks and never
returning, that the two stories blended into
one, and each life as a whole was a life of
adventure, toil and danger; and rarely was
a careful record made of passing events ; so
that many a story of real life, more thrilling
than that of any fiction, has been forgotten

4 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

and lost. When, about two years ago the
Bronx Chapter of The Daughters of the
American Revolution of Mount Vernon,
N. Y., placed a bronze tablet on "Glover's
Rock," many asked: "Where is Glover's
Rock? and what does it mean? ' ' and were sur-
prised to learn that it marked the spot where
General Glover met the enemy, more than
five times his number, and fought one of the
most skilful and successful battles of the war.
This aroused a long cherished wish of the
author to follow General Glover and his
regiment through the war of the Revolu-
tion. Under that inspiration the following
paper was prepared and presented to the
Marblehead Historical Society, May 14, 1903.
"Glover's Rock," which in its vicinity
has been known by that name since the days
of the Revolution, is a great rock or boulder
by the side of the road from Pelham to Pell's
Point. City Island is off the Point. The
city of New York has recently acquired this
whole territory of twenty-three hundred
acres, in the midst of which is "Glover's
Rock," and set it apart as a public park to
be known as Pelham Bay Park.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 5

The road over which the British troops
marched and in which Glover met them and
fought the battle of Pell's Point is still the
highway from Pelham to the Point; and
the stone wall, behind which he placed Read,
Shepard and Baldwin, remained until a few
years ago, when the road was macadamized.
The stones were taken, broken and crushed
to make the " macadam," and when the street
railway was built several cannon balls were
dug from the earth near Glover's Rock.

June, 1903.

Gen. John Glover and his Marblehead
Regiment in the Revolutionary War.

Charles Glover came from England to
Salem in 1630. John Glover, who was born
in Salem, and married Mary Guppy of Salem,
January 2, 1660, is supposed to be the son
of the immigrant Charles.

Jonathan, son of John, was born April,
1677, and married Abigail Henderson, March
31, 1697.

Jonathan, Jr., son of Jonathan, was born
December 4, 1702, and married Tabitha
Bacon, February 23, 1727.

The children of Jonathan, Jr., were:

Jonathan, born June 13, 1731, married
Abigail Burnham of Marblehead, October 10,
1748, and was a hatter by trade.

Samuel, born June 13, 1731, married Mary
Andrews of Marblehead, August 20, 1751,
and was a goldsmith by trade.

John, born November 5, 1732, married

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 7

first, Hannah Gale, October 30, 1754, second,
Mrs. Frances Fosdick, both of Marblehead,
and was by trade a shoemaker. (Hannah
Gale was born in Marblehead, June, 1733,
died November 13, 1778.)

Daniel, was born January, 1734, married
Hannah Jillings of Newbury, Decemiber i,
1757, and was a blockmaker by trade.

The following were the eleven children
of John and Hannah Glover, all born in
Marblehead :
I St. John, born March 23, 1756. Married

Fanny Lee, one child, Fanny.
2d. Hannah, born May 15, 1757. Died in

infancy.
3d. Daniel, born April 8, 1759. Died in

infancy.
4th. Hannah, born April 19, 1761. Married

Richard Co well, seven children.
5th. Samuel, born December 19, 1762.
Married ist, Martha Bowden, 2d,
Betsy Skillins, three children.
6th. Jonas, born April i, 1764. Married

Sally Pierce, two children.
7th. Tabitha, born December 8, 1765.
Married William Brooks of Exeter.

8 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

8th. Susannah, born March 28, 1767. Mar-
ried Capt. Nicholas Broughton,
five children.
9th. Mary, born January 8, 1769. Mar-
ried December 11, 1788, Robert
Hooper, born February 3, 1766,
thirteen children,
loth. Sarah, born February 10, 1771. Mar-
ried Samuel Lewis, one child,
nth. Jonathan, born May 9, 1773. Died
unmarried.
General John Glover with his three broth-
ers, Jonathan, Samuel and Daniel, removed
from Salem to Marblehead when young and
soon became engaged in the various trades
that they had previously learned.

John did not find the shoemaker's bench
and the last quite to his taste, while the
fish-flakes, the warehouse and the wharf
presented stronger attractions, promised
larger returns and more nearly met his am-
bition .

He soon entered the fishing business, and
pursued it with tact and energy. His mar-
ket was largely in France, Spain and the
West Indies, and this led him to engage in

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 9

other mercantile pursuits. He was saga-
cious, energetic and successful.

At the outbreak of the Revolution he was
forty-three years old, and for the times in
which he lived he had accumulated quite a
fortune.

Stryker, page 134, says :" Glover owned
a number of vessels, and before the war was
extensively engaged in the fishing trade. He
was an active and good soldier."

Dr. lyoring before the Columbian Society,
January 8, 1856, said: "He was active,
modest and industrious, the friend of Wash-
ington, the truest friend of freedom, the
hero of Trenton." For many years he had
been elected to offices of honor and trust and
had served his fellow citizens in many ways.

The military spirit had always been strong
in Marblehead. As early as 1758 a full
militia regiment of a thousand men was
maintained in this town, then the second in
the colony of Massachusetts in point of
wealth and importance.

When John Glover was elected Colonel of
the Marblehead Regiment, he was not a
novice in the military service, for he had held

lo GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

the following commissions, the originals
of which are said to be still in possession of
his descendants : ' ' Ensign in the third mili-
tary foot company in the town of Marble-
head, under the command of Richard Reed,
Esq. ; in the fifth regiment of militia in the
County of Essex, whereof Jacob Fowle, Esq.,
is Colonel," and is dated March 12, 1759, and
signed Thomas Pownall, Governor.

His second commission was as "Captain
Lieutenant in the military company of foot
in Marblehead, under the command of Azor
Orne, Esq., in the regiment of militia in the
County of Essex, whereof Jacob Fowle, Esq.,
is Colonel." Dated February 12, 1762,
vSigned by Francis Bernard, Governor.

Third, as "Captain of a military company
of foot in the town of Marblehead in the
regiment of militia in the County of Essex,
whereof John Gallison, Esq., is Colonel."
Dated February 8, 1773, signed by Thomas
Hutchinson, Governor.

About May 22, 1775, the Marblehead Regi-
ment was transferred from the militia which
was in the service of King George, to the con-
tinental service, and at that time officered as
follows :

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. ^'^ ^^"

Colonel — John Glover. M^ LIBRARY

Lieutenant-Colonel — John GerrJ^ _^ ^

Major — Gabriel Johonnot. ^^!S*/I*6T0H ^' ^

Adjutant — William Gibbs.

Captains — William R. Lee, William Cour-
tis, William Bacon, Thomas Grant, Joel
Smith, Nicholson Br ought on, William Black-
ler, John Merritt, John Selman, Francis
Symonds.

Lieutenants — John Glover, Robert Harris,
WiUiam Mills, William Bubier, John Bray,
John Stacy, Nathaniel Clark, Joshua Pren-
tice, Isaac Collyer, William Russell.

Ensigns — Edward Archbold, Thomas Cour-
tis, Seward Lee, Ebenezer Graves, Joshua
Orne, J. Deveraux, Jr., Nathaniel Pearce,
Robert Nimblett, Edward Holman, George
Ligngrass.

These excepting W. R. Lee, John Glover,
Jr., and Edward Archbold were all com-
missioned by the Provincial Congress, June

23, 1775.

William R. Lee soon after became Major,
John Glover, Captain, and Edward Arch-
bold, Adjutant, in the same regim^ent.

The uniform of the regiment consisted of a

12 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

blue round jacket and trousers, trimmed with
leather buttons.

February 26, 1775. When Colonel Leslie
landed his troops at Roman's Beach and
Lovis Cove, the Marblehead regiment, com-
posed as it was of industrious citizens, were
scattered from Newtown to Peach's Point,
but they were hastily mustered by their
colonel, John Glover, and were soon ready
for any exigency that might arise.

When lycslie's troops returned from Salem,
Glover's Regiment was drawn up in line as
they passed to the beach.

From this time on, the daily drill became
longer and more exacting. The men who
had previously been under the command of
Colonel Azor Orne, Colonel Jacob Fowle and
Colonel Jeremiah Lee, were now, ( having
seen the enemy ) being drilled by Colonel
John Glover, not for a holiday parade but
to face a stubborn enemy in an open field ; to
stand a charge or to execute one ; to take a for-
tification or to defend and hold one. They
learned readily, and tenaciously retained what
they learned. They had already learned and
needed no lessons in the handling of oars and
sails.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 13

June 21, 1775. Colonel John Glover with
his regiment was ordered to join the army at
Cambridge.

The next day, June 22, Colonel Glover
marched his regiment from Marblehead to
Cambridge and joined the Continental Army.

July 3, Washington took command and
organized the American army.

The first order given was to Colonel Glover
to be ready at a moment's notice to support
General Folsom of New Hampshire, or, if
Colonel Prescott should be attacked, to move
to his support.*

In the early autumn. Glover's Regiment
was encamped in an enclosed pasture north
of the colleges. While in this camp came that
half -dramatic scrimmage between the Marble-
head fishermen and the Virginia riflemen. It
began by their bantering each other about
their uniforms, for the fishermen wore reef-
ing jackets and the riflemen were clothed
in half Indian costume. From words they
proceeded to blows. Washington hearing
of the disturbance rushed into the midst of
them, taking two riflem.en, one in each hand,

*See Appendix F.

14 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

holding them out at arm's length, and shaking
them, and ordered them to cease wasting their
strength on their friends, and reserve it for
their enemies. The disturbance was quelled.

September 2, 1775. Captain Nicholson
Brought on, a captain in Glover's Regiment
was commiissioned captain of the armed
schooner Hannah by General Washington,
the first vessel in the American navy and
the first captain's commission issued. Sep-
tember 5, Captain Brought on sailed from
Beverly in the Hannah on his first cruise.
Two days later he captured his first prize,
the ship Unity, loaded with military stores
and ammunition, which he carried into Cape
Ann.

October 4, Colonel Glover with his regi-
ment was ordered from Cambridge to Bever-
ly (and marched that day,) that he might
procure and superintend the fitting out of
vessels for the navy.

October 15. Two vessels, the Lynch and
the Franklin, were ready to be manned for
service.

October 16. Captain Brought on received
a commodore's commission and Captain

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 15

John Selman and John Manly each a captain's
commission and were ordered to the river
Saint Lawrence to capture two British trans-
ports that were expected with munitions of
war for Quebec. They sailed October 21,
Captain Broughton in the Lynch and Selman
in the Franklin.

It is said that Captains Broughton and Sel-
man each drew his company up into line for
inspection. The expedition was to be a peril-
ous one. Neither of the captains wished to take
with him a single man who had not in him
the timber of which heroes are made. They
passed up and down in front of the lines.
The lines marched around them like the rim
of a wheel around the hub. After a careful
inspection, not one m.an was barred out.
Each was both a sailor and a soldier. Cap-
tain Broughton mustered seventy men,
Captain Selman sixty-five men.

October 21. The little fleet put to sea,
to run the gauntlet of the British navy. It
was like kingbirds among the vultures.
The expedition was a success, but not in the
way Washington had hoped. Broughton
was three years ahead of the times. Four

i6 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

days after Brought on had sailed, Congress
appointed a committee to devise means for
capturing the two British transports.

October 28. The schooner Lee was
ready to sail. Captain Manly had shipped
his crew largely from Glover's Regiment, and
that accounts in part for the daring and suc-
cessful cruise in Massachusetts Bay, which
was only a prelude to what followed. Manly
was afterward in command of the frigates
Hancock and Hague. He died in Boston,

1793-

November 25. Congress authorized priva-
teering.

November 28. Congress adopted rules
for the navy.

December 13. Congress resolved to build
thirteen ships for the navy.

December 19. At the approach of British
frigates Colonel Glover with his regiment
was ordered to Marblehead, and then back
again to Beverly to protect that place,
which was thought to be in danger.

Previous to December 22, 1775, when the
first action was taken by the Continental
Congress towards appointing officers for the

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 17

navy, Colonel John Glover had charge of
the equipment and manning of the armed
vessels and cruisers, that did such signal
service at that time. He was practically
"Secretary of the Navy" under Washington,
until Congress took the matter in hand.

January i, 1776. The old Marblehead
Regiment by reorganization was made the
Fourteenth Continental Regiment under
Colonel John Glover; but the regiment was
always better known as Glover's or the Mar-
blehead Regiment.

March 17. Boston was evacuated by the
British. Carrington, page 154, says: "The
troops embarked in one hundred and tw^enty
crowded transports for Halifax; were wind
bound at Nantasket Roads for ten days.
General Ward, with five thousand men, en-
tered Boston followed on the 20th by Wash-
ington and his whole army.

April 4. Washington left for New York,
leaving five regiments in Boston and vicinity.

May 17. Captain Mugford captured the
powder ship Hope. Of his crew, twenty
were volunteers from Glover's Regiment.
Mugford was killed May 19, 1776.

i8 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

July 20. Colonel Glover and his regiment
commenced their march from Beverly to
New York. They arrived in New York,
August 9, and joined General Sullivan's
brigade. There were no public conveyances
at that time. When troops moved from one
place to another it was on foot and usually
with as much baggage as they could carry.

August 16. Captain Fosdick, Adjutant of
Glover's Regiment, and Captain Thomas took
command of two fireships in the Hudson.
Though they did not succeed in burning the
two British war vessels, as they sought to do,
they caused them to move down the river to
their fleet, leaving the Hudson clear.

August 27, 1776. The battle of Long
Island, took place. It was an unequal con-
test. Washington was hard pressed. He was
outnumbered two to one. The coming on
of night and a storm, brought him tempo-
rary relief. The British loss had been five
officers killed, twenty-one wounded; fifty-
eight non-commissioned officers and men
killed, three hundred and sixteen wounded.
The American loss according to British re-
turns, in killed, wounded and prisoners, was

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 19

one thousand ninety-seven of whom one hun-
dred and twenty-seven were Long Island mili-
tia.

August 28. Glover with his regiment
was ordered to join Washington and crossed
over to Long Island, arriving before noon,
and took post at Wallabout Bay, on the left
of the American army.

August 29. After a conference with Colonel
Glover, Washington wrote General Heath:
'' We have many battalions from New Jersey
which are coming over this evening to relieve
those here. Order every flat bottomed boat
and other craft fit for the transportation of
troops down to New York as soon as possi-
ble."

Quartermaster Hughes was instructed "to
impress every kind of craft on either side
of New York that could be kept afloat that
had oars or sails or could be furnished with
them, and have them in East River by dark.
Washington then called a council of war and
laid before it his plan of retreat. It had
rained in torrents and the wind had blown a
gale from the northeast, all day long.
Heath and Hughes acted promptly so that

20 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

crafts of every kind arrived at Brooklyn
just before dark. Colonel Glover's Regiment,
which had already been detailed to that duty,
took possession of the boats to act as seamen.
The evacuation of Long Island immediately
commenced. The wind and the tide were so
violent that even they could not set a single
close-reefed sail. Thole-pins were put in
place, improvised or otherwise. Silently,
with muffled oars, with long pulls and strong
pulls, for more than three hours, back and
forth they urged their boats. There was
haste and speed but no confusion. At mid-
night, the wind changed to the south, the
tide had turned, the water became smooth,
sails were set, the boats were loaded to the
''gunnels," no moment of time was lost.
Everything that could be moved by sail or
oar was in motion. The work progressed
rapidly. The men and munitions were all
safely landed in New York. A thick fog
hung over Long Island and the bay while it
was clear on the New York side.

The perfect success of the evacuation of
Long Island by the Continental Army on
the morning of the 30th of August, 1776,

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 2t

was due to the sailor-soldiers of Glover's
Regiment. There was no pulling and hauling
for precedence, but the pulling and hauling
was all for the main chance, the successful
evacuation. Under their skilful manage-
ment the whole was accomplished in less
than thirteen hours. The American army
was saved. The ten British frigates and
twice as many gunboats and sloops-of-war,
that moved up the bay that day, would have
made the evacuation impossible, and Wash-
ington and his army would have been lost to
the Revolution.

September 4, 1776. Colonel Glover was
put in command of Clinton's Brigade and
William R. Lee was appointed Brigadier
Major.

September 13. Colonel Glover superin-
tended the evacuation of New York City,
and with his brigade between 9 o'clock in
the evening and sunrise the next morning
removed five hundred sick to improvised
hospitals on the Jersey shore. The tents
and light baggage he sent by wagons to
Kingsb ridge, but the heavy baggage was
taken to the wharf and carried up the river

22 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

by boat. Here again Glover's Regiment
found and performed a special service.

September 14. At 9 o'clock in the even-
ing, after thirty-six hours of hard and con-
tinuous labor and the evacuation nearly
completed, Colonel Glover received orders to
march his brigade to Harlem, eight miles
distant and join General McDougall. Before
reaching Harlem, he received orders to con-
tinue his march to Kingsbridge, seven miles
farther on. Arriving there on the morning of
the 15th they began to unstrap their knap-
sacks; while thus engaged, Glover received
express orders to return to Harlem and with-
out stopping for rest or refreshments they
took up the line of march to return to Har-
lem. General Howe had moved up East
River and landed near Kip's Bay.

The Americans under Washington at the
approach of the British were panic stricken,
broke ranks and fled. No efforts of Wash-
ington could bring them into line or stay
their flight. A drawn sword or pistol pre-
sented to the head was unavailing. They
continued their flight toward Kingsbridge,
until they met Glover and his brigade;

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 23

their fearless, orderly and soldierly march
reassured them. They halted, they fell
into the ranks and marched back with him.
General Glover brought them all into line on
a hill ready to meet the British. Washing-
ton would not trust men so recently in panic
to face the enemy that day, and ordered them
to fall back.

The show of strength made a delay on
the part of the British that Putnam im-
proved by removing his thirty-five hundred
men from New York City, thus completing
the evacuation. He had been left there
when Glover was ordered to Harlem.

Glover's Brigade had marched twenty-
three miles that day without rest or refresh-
ment after two days and two nights of con-
tinuous labor. Glover wrote: "We fell back
about three miles towards Dobbs Ferry
without food or drink, and camped for the
night with nothing but the earth under us
and nothing but the heavens over us."

September 28. General Lee ordered his
division to move to White Plains by the way
of Dobbs Ferry. By his urgent advice New
York Island had been evacuated bv the

24 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Americans and the troops moved up the
river to retard the movements of the British.
October i6. Glover's brigade ( in Lee's
division ) was on the East Chester Road
near Pelham to watch the enemy.

PELIv'S POINT.

Early in the morning of October i8th,
General Glover with his spy-glass went out
upon a hill-top near Hutchinson River
to scan Long Island Sound and the coast,
to know if the enemy was in sight. To his
surprise he saw a fleet of British ships
off Pell's Point disembarking troops and
moving towards the Point. Glover was
alone in command of his brigade with no
reenforcements or support to fall back upon.
Glover, in a letter written soon after this
said : " I would have given a thousand worlds
to have had some experienced general at
hand to tell me what to do. He immediately
sent William R. Lee to General Samuel Lee,
three miles distant, for orders. But there
was no time to be lost. He quickly made his
plans and prepared to meet the enemy.
Glover's Brigade at this time consisted of

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 25

four redments: the Fourteenth Continen-
tal (the Marblehead Regiment of which he
was Colonel ) one hundred and seventy-nine
men fit for duty; Thirteenth Regiment,
Colonel Joseph Read, two hundred and
twenty-six men, ( Read was born in Uxbridge,
March 6, 1731); Third Regiment, Colonel
William Shepard, two hundred and four
men, (Shepard was born in Westfield, De-
cember I, 1737. Died, November 16, 1817);
Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Colonel Loammi
Baldwin, two hundred and thirty-four men.
(Baldwin, born in Woburn, January 21,
1745. Died, October 20, 1807. He was the
propagator of the Baldwin apple.)

General Glover, with his brigade of four
Massachusetts regiments, in all, eight hundred
and forty-three men, fit for service, met
General Howe and his army of over four
thousand British regulars at Glover's
Rock, Pell's Point. The road leading from
Pelham to Pdl's Point had, for a fence, on
each side, at this place, a heavy stone wall.
General Glover, with great skill, placed his
men where they would do the best service,
taking every advantage offered of position

2 6 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

and defense. He placed Colonel Read on
the right of the road, near the great rock,
(since known as Glover's Rock,) with the
stone wall for breast- works. A little farther
back, on the left of the road, he placed
Colonel Shepard, and still farther back on
the right. Colonel Baldwin, each behind the
stone wall. On the hill in the rear, where
he had planted his three guns, he posted the
Marblehead Regiment. Then Glover with
forty men moved down the road to meet the
British. After a little skirmish with their
advance guard, which was quickly reen-
forced, he fell slowly back until the enemy
were within the range of Read's guns; when
he and his men each rose from behind the
wall, took aim and poured a terrible rak-
ing fire into the ranks of the advancing
enemy, from which, after a few rounds, they
recoiled and fell back. Being reenforced,
the enemy again moved forward but to meet
Read's guns as before. Read held them until
he had fired four rounds, then it was his
turn to retreat and he fell back. The Brit-
ish pushed forward, but only to meet the
raking fire from Shepard 's Regiment on the

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 27

left. Shepard held them for an hour and
then retreated. The British thought they
then had a free field and moved forward with
a quickened step, but were soon brought to
a halt by the guns of Baldwin's Regiment
on the right that had been reenforced by
Read. A severe battle followed, night was
coming on. Glover fell slowly back to the
hill where his guns were stationed. The
British fell back to the road to New Rochelle,
went into camp and waited until the 26th
instance for reenforcements.

General Carrington, in his account of this
battle, page 235, said: "On the 17th instant,
the First, Second and Sixth Brigades and the
Third Hessian Battalion, with General Howe,
were transferred from Flushing to Pell's
Point at the mouth of Hutchinson River.
When they advanced toward New Rochelle,
Colonel Glover with his regiment made so
persistent a resistance with a force of seven
hundred and fifty men behind a stone wall
as to check the advance guard until it was
strongly reenforced, and earned for himself
honorable mention in orders."

General Glover in a letter to his mother,

28 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

written the next day after the battle, said:
''Our loss yesterday was seven killed and
thirteen wounded, the enemy's loss, as near
as I can learn was between two hundred
and three hundred. *Abbatt of Pelham, who
has made a special study of this battle, and
of the Enghsh and German records (the
Hessians reported to their home govern-
ment ) said: "The British loss at Pell's Point
was over eight hundred men; Glover's loss
was eight killed and thirteen wounded."
October 19. Glover and his brigade re-
ceived in General Orders thanks from Gen-
eral I^ee; and on the)2ist, in General Orders
thanks from General Washington, as follows :

\.^;-M M11.E Square, October 19, 1776. f
General Lee returns his warmest thanks
to Colonel Glover and the brigade under his
command, not only for their gallant behav-
ior yesterday, but for their prudent, cool,
orderly and soldierlike conduct in all respects.
He assures these brave men that he shall
omit no opportunity of showing his gratitude.
All of the wounded to be immediately carried
to Volantine's Hill, at the second liberty
pole, where surgeons should repair to dress

*See Appendix A and B.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 29

them ; they are afterwards to be forwarded to
Fort Washington."

Headquarters, October 21, 1776.
The hurried situation of the Gen. the
two last days having prevented him from
paying that attention to Colonel Glover and
the officers and soldiers who were with him
in the skirmish on Friday last that their
merit and good behavior deserved, he
flatters himself that his thanks, though de-
layed will nevertheless be acceptable to them,
as they are offered with great sincerity and
cordiality; at the same time, he hopes that
every other part of the army will do their
duty with bravery and zeal whenever called
upon, and neither dangers nor difficulties
nor hardships will discourage soldiers en-
gaged in the cause of Liberty and while we
are contending for all that freemen hold
dear and valuable.

October 20, 1776. General Glover im-
pressed fifteen wagons into the service and
sent his brigade from Mile Square to East
Chester and brought away two hundred
barrels of pork and flour from so near the
British camp that they could hear music
and talking within.

October 23. Glover attacked a party of

30 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Hessians of whom twelve were killed and
three taken prisioners.

October 25. Lee's divisions marched
from Kingsbridge to White Plains. The
baggage and military stores were entrusted
to Glover's Brigade. All arrived safely.

October 28. General Glover and his
brigade were in the battle of White Plains.
When the British moved on him they out-
numbered him four to one.

McDougall's Division was posted on Chat-
terton's Hill to cover the march. The Brit-
ish attacked and pressed him so hard he was
obliged to withdraw.

Glover had been posted on a hill nearby,
covering the road to Albany and New Eng-
land. The British then moved on Glover.
He had three brass guns, one twenty-four, -
one six- and one three-pounder, and three
iron twelve-pounders.

The British approached in four columns.
Glover reserved his fire until they were in
the valley, and then poured into them his
well-aimed shot which threw them into such
confusion that they were compelled to re-
treat. They withdrew and went into camp.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 31

The British loss was twenty-eight killed and
one hundred and twenty-seven wounded;
Glover's loss, none.

Another account: "Glover's Brigade was
stationed on a hill near McDougall, the Brit-
ish with twelve thousand men marched to
the hill where Glover v/as awaiting them.
Twice Glover repulsed them, then they re-
treated."

October 29. Glover was then stationed at
North Castle with Lee's Division, and there
remained until the last of November when
Lee's Division, including Glover's Brigade,
was ordered to join Washington, who was
then retreating across New Jersey.

December 10. Lee's Division under Mc-
Dougall, ( Lee having been captured five days
before ) consisting of three thousand men,
moved to join Washington at the Delaware.
They joined him about the 15th instance.

December 25. Washington with his
troops and military stores was on the banks
of the Delaware; his boats were ready for
crossing. But to cross seemed impossible.
The river was full to the brink. Great
masses of floating ice were constantly rush-

32 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

ing by. The case was urgent. Washington
called for volunteers to man the boats for
crossing, and Glover's Regiment, and they
alone, stepped to the front. The boats were
put in their charge. Carrington said:
"Glover, the man of Marblehead, a hero
of the Long Island Retreat, was there." An
army of eight thousand men, with the muni-
tions of war were to be placed on the opposite
bank of the river. That night Washington
and his entire army were ferried safely
across. It was effected before daybreak,
in the darkness, through snow, sleet and
floating ice. *Stryker, page 134, said: " Had
not Colonel John Glover's splendid regiment
of seafaring men from Marblehead, Mass.,
lent willing and skilful hand, as he had prom-
ised they would, the expedition would no
doubt have failed."

December 26. In the Battle of Trenton,
Glover's Brigade was with General Sullivan's
right wing. His regiment at that time con-
sisted of thirty commissioned officers, one
hundred and forty- seven enlisted men, with
two hundred and nineteen sick or on extra

*See Appendix C.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 33

duty. *Glover was frequently called upon
for men for special service.

January i, 1777. William R. Lee was
commissioned Colonel and returned to Massa-
chusetts to organize the Twenty-First Con-
tinental Regiment. Many of the officers
and men of this new regiment were from
Marblehead.

February 23. Congress appointed Colonel
John Glover Brigadier General. He joined
Washington at Peekskill and took command
of his brigade. On receipt of Washington's
letter urging him so to do, on April 26, he
accepted the Brigadier's Commission and
June 15th took command under Putnam.

June. Generals McDougall, Parsons and
Glover were sent from near Kingsbridge to
Middlebrook.

June 15. General Glover and his brigade
are at Peekskill and camped there until the
2ist instance. (His troops " without coats,
breeches, stockings or shoes.")

July 27. General Glover with his brigade
sailed from Peekskill to Saratoga.

August 3. They marched to Stillwater.

*See Appendix D.

34 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

August 19. The army retreated to Van
Schaick's Island. General Gates then took
command of the army, including Glover's
Brigade, and moved up the river to Bemis
Heights.

The following extract from a letter written
at this time to Jonathan Glover and Azor
Orne will help us to know Glover as a man
as well as a soldier:
Van Schaick's Island, September 5, 1777.

Dear Sirs: — Our

troops are healthy and in good spirits, but
poorly shod and clothed and many without
blankets. The Honorable Brigadier General
Palmer and Doctor Taylor are witnesses of
this, as they have had an opportunity of
seeing for themselves.

I should have been happy to see more of
my friends with them, particularly Messrs.
Glover, Orne and Gerry, who, (if I mistake
not,) gave me some encouragement when I
left them, but being engaged in the Public
Service has prevented. I have too much
charity to suppose private interest, or the
fear of a little fatigue has kept them back.
When matters look gloomy it has a fine effect,
(it gives a spring and animates our spirits,)
to have our friends to look at, and consult
with; at the same time they would have an

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 35

Opportunity of seeing for themselves as well
as seeing the pleasure we enjoy in camp
life; but more of this the next Tuesday night's
club, at a meeting when all of the members
are present, a good fire, pipes, tobacco, wine
and good punch — that's the place to talk
matters over, not in this house made of
hemp, ( I have quitted my log house men-
tioned in my last ) the walls and roof of which
are so thin they need no windows, nor do
they obstruct the rays of light, or the rain
passing through in the least.

I acknowledge the receipt of Colonel
Glover's letter from Wells the only one re-
ceived since I left Peekskill, notwithstanding
a weekly Post comes from Boston to this
place. The Phaeton therein mentioned I
beg he would make use of as freely as if it
was his own; at present, don't incline to sell
it, but should he not see me again, my desire
is that he may have it, paying the value to
my wife, for her and the children's support.

My compliments to your good ladies and
families, and my old friends, the Tuesday's
club, including Reverend Messrs. Whit well
and Story, one of whom I expected and
should have been happy to have had as a
Chaplain to my brigade, for want of which
must do my own preaching. They possibly
can do more good at home. I'm sure they will
not be so much exposed and will live better.

36 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Adieu, my Dear Sir, and believe me to be
sincerely your friend and most Obe'd Servt.

John Glover.

To Messrs. Jonathan Glover and Azor
Orne, Esqrs.

September 19, 1777. General Glover's
Brigade was in the left wing of the army
when a severe battle took place, under the
immediate command of General Gates, the
Americans holding their ground against the
British under Burgoyne when night closed
the fierce struggle.

September 29, 1777. Glover wrote: "I
ordered one hundred men from my brigade
to take off a pickett of about sixty of the
enemy, who were posted about half a mile
from me, at the same time ordered a covering
party of two hundred to support them.
This being the first enterprise of this kind,
and as it was proposed by me, I was very
anxious for its success. I therefore went
myself. . . . When I made the proper
disposition for the attack, they w^ent on like
so many tigers, bidding defiance to musket
balls and bayonets. Drove the enemy, killed
three, and wounded a great number more.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 37

took one prisoner, eight packs, eight blankets,
two guns, one sword and many other articles
of plunder without any loss on our side."

October 7. Another general engagement
took place. A part of Glover's brigade was
held in reserve, but the Marblehead Regiment
was under Arnold, and in the thickest of the
fight. The camp was attacked and captured.
It was one of the hardest fought battles of
the war. General Glover had three horses
shot from under him during the engagement.
Burgoyne was compelled to retreat towards
Fort Edward.

October 11, 1777. General Gates ordered
an attack on Burgoyne 's works, while, ( as
he had been led by rumors to believe) he
was weakened by the absence of a part of
his army. Burgoyne knowing of this mis-
take, prepared to make the most of it. At
daybreak the troops began to move. Nixon
had already crossed the Creek, Glover close
behind, had entered the water, when he saw
a British soldier, who claimed to be a de-
serter. Glover arrested and examined him.
On questioning him in regard to Burgoyne 's
army, his ansv/ers were not satisfactory.

38 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Glover told him, " If you are found attempt-
ing to deceive me, you shall be hung in half
an hour, but if you speak nothing but the
truth you shall have good usage." Then
he said Burgoyne's full force was with him,
well entrenched and in good position. Glov-
er, though the junior officer to Nixon, sent
off to him to re-cross the creek; and at the
same time sent his aid-de-camp on horse-
back with the deserter behind him to Gen-
eral Gates, who examined the soldier and
immediately countermanded his orders of
attack, and began to make his plans to pre-
vent the escape of Burgoyne. By Glover's
timely discovery of the true condition of the
enemy, the American army was saved from
disaster, and the enemy caught in a trap.

October 13, 1777. Burgoyne, with five
thousand seven hundred and sixty-three
men, surrendered — a bloodless victory !
Glover,* with his brigade, was appointed to
escort the prisoners of war to Boston.

November 7. Burgoyne's army under
Glover's escort arrived in Cambridge. Col-
onel William R. Lee, with his new regiment,

*See Appendix E.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 39

was ordered to form a part of the guard.

November 9. Hamilton writes from New
Jersey: "Glover and Patterson are on their
way down."

December. General Glover was president
and Colonel William R. Lee a member of the
court martial for the trial of Colonel Henley
at Cambridge.

January to May, 1778. Glover's Regiment
was at Valley Forge and suffered all of the
hardships of that camp.

May 7. Came the welcome news of the
French alliance. A grand jubilee was held
at Valley Forge.

June 28. General Glover again joined
the army, having finished the business as-
signed him by General Gates, and was placed
in command of Fort Arnold near West Point.
The Marblehead Regiment, with others, was
sent under Lafayette to Providence to re-
enforce General Sullivan. General Glover
joined his brigade while on their way. On
his arrival. General Sullivan sent Glover
to recruit two hundred sailors for fifteen
days' service.

August ID. Glover having secured in

40 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Boston, Salem and Marblehead, the two hun-
dred sailors, returned to Providence. Colo-
nel William R. Lee, having resigned, re-
linquished his command to attend to private
affairs that demanded attention.

August 14. Sullivan moved to Quaker
Hill near Newport. Though disappointed
in the French fleet that had promised their
support, and, instead, had sailed away, he
prepared to move on the city, then occu-
pied by the British.

August 15. Glover's Brigade was on the
left of the line under Bigelow, and Glover
was on Sullivan's staff.

August 20. The time of enlistment of
many men having expired, they were urged
by Sullivan to continue their service a few
days longer. Many left, but the Marblehead
and Salem men remained.

Glover, with the other generals, remon-
strated against the action of the French.

August 28, 1778. The American forces
removed from Quaker Hill to Bitt's Hill and
were there attacked by the British. In the
advance skirmishing, the American left was
reenforced by Glover's Brigade. The fight

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER 41

was severe. The loss was considerable on
each side. The British were repulsed.

August 29. A retreat was determined
upon by a council of war. "The experience
and good judgment of General Glover was
conspicuous on this occasion, as on the re-
treat from Long Island in 1776." "At Qua-
ker Hill, * General Glover had distinguished
himself by a valiant defense."

As night came on. Glover's Regiment took
command of the fiat-boats, and before day-
light the next morning, had safely ferried
across the Narragansett to the main land, the
entire army, Sullivan, Greene and Lafayette,
their divisions and munitions of war. Not
a man or an article was left behind.

On the morning of the 30th, one hundred
sail of British vessels appeared in sight,
bringing General Clinton's army to the rescue
of the garrison.

February, 1779. Glover was granted a
furlough and returned to Marblehead.

June 20. Glover, with his brigade,
marched from Providence to join the main
army, then in the Hudson valley.

''Carrington, Page 455.

42 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

July 23. Glover was ordered to Ridge-
field to watch and communicate the move-
ments of the enemy.

November 25. Glover was at "Camp
Peeks Kill" with his brigade in the field;
"eight hundred men without shoes or stock-
ings." The whole army, except Glover's
and Nixon's Brigades, had gone into winter
camp, but "they were enjoying the sweets
of a winter campaign. ' '

Summer, 1780. Glover and his brigade
were at West Point.

September 29. Glover was a member of
the court that sentenced Major Andre.

October 2. When Major Andre was exe-
cuted, Glover was officer of the day.

Winter, 1 780-1. Glover and his brigade
were at West Point, and was left with other
troops to protect the Hudson Highlands,
when Washington and the main army went
to Virginia.

October 19, 1781. Lord Cornwallis sur-
rendered. Great rejoicing.

We cannot fully appreciate or understand
the feeling of the men and women of America
on the receipt of the news of the surrender of

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 43

Cornwallis. The feeling of anxiety and sus-
pense, long continued, had been strained to
the utmost. Strong men cried like children
for joy, and wives and mothers walked about
dazed, because the strain of suspense was
ended. A single instance will serve to illus-
trate it :

On the Sunday after October 19, 1781, in
the southern part of this state, a congrega-
tion had gathered in the village church for
public worship. The good old parson was
in the midst of his sermon when the sound
of a galloping horse was heard rapidly ap-
proaching the meeting-house. The tithing-
man started for the door to investigate its
meaning. As he reached the door, a horse,
all flecked with foam, was drawn in before
him, and the tall, lithe horseman brushed
by him and walked hurriedly up the aisle,
and up the pulpit stairs. After a short con-
ference with the minister, he turned, walked
rapidly out again, leaped into his saddle and
galloped away.

The minister, through the open window,
watched him till he disappeared and the
sound of his horse's hoofs had died away in

44 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

the distance. The good man then turned
to his audience, composed of women, old men
and children, and said: "My friends, this
courier brings the grand, the glorious tidings
that Lord Cornwallis, on the 19th instant,
surrendered to General Washington and the
Continentals. Now, if we were not in the
Lord's house, on the Lord's day, I would
call for three rousing cheers for Washington
and the Continental army. But we are in
the Lord's house, and it is the Lord's day."
He hesitated a moment. His patriotism
began to boil, and raising himself to his full
height, he said : " Brethren and sisters, though
we are in the Lord's house and on the Lord's
day, what would be the harm in just going
through the motions?" He grasped his
manuscript, raised it above his head, and
three times waved it in the air. His congre-
gation was already on its feet, and three
times a wave of white handkerchiefs and red
bandannas rolled across the meeting-house.
And then all was quiet. They expected the
minister to go on with his sermon. But he
could not. He did not know where he left
off, and said, '' Now let us sing, Traise God

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 45

from whom all blessings flow. ' ' ' When that
was sung, he pronounced the benediction.
There were many who could not leave their
seats; they sat and cried for joy.

The British were in possession of New
York City, and Washington, as he always
had done, saw the importance of holding
the Hudson valley, and carefully guarded
every strategic point, from Harlem to Lake
Champlain. Glover and his brigade were
still in the Highlands near West Point.

November 12, 1781. Glover was in com-
mand of a foraging expedition, and with
his brigade, received the thanks of General
Heath.

Spring of 1782. Glover was ordered to
Massachusetts to take charge of mustering
and forwarding recruits.

July, 1782. General Glover reluctantly
retired from the army on account of failing
health and was placed on half-pay by Con-
gress. Congress would gladly have been
just, if not generous, to all of the patriot
army, but the poverty of the treasury pre-
vented.

Glover had put himself and his fortune

46 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

into the Revolution. His vitality was near-
ly exhausted. His fortune was absorbed.
At the close of the war, he returned to his
home broken in health but uncomplaining.
He partitioned off a corner of his sitting-
room for a workshop, and cobbled shoes for
a livelihood.

Five children were still dependent upon
him. His oldest son had been a captain in
his regiment, and, though young, had proved
himself worthy of the trust. His youngest
son was nine years old. Glover's wife had
died November 13, 1778, while his brigade
was in Rhode Island, after the battle of New-
port.

He was elected Representative to the
Massachusetts Legislature in 1788 and in
1789; a Selectman in 1787, 1788, 1789, 1790,
1791 and 1792.

January 30, 1797. General John Glover
died in Marblehead, and was buried in the
Old Burial Ground, aged 64 years, 2 months,
25 days.

APPENDIX.

The two following letters from American Archives,
Fifth Series, Volume II.

A
Mile Square, October 22, 1776.

You no doubt heard the enemy landed all their
army on Frog's Point, the nth instant, leaving only
twelve hundred men in York, and there remained until
the 1 8th, which was Frida3^ I arose early in the
morning and went on the hill with my glass, and dis-
covered a number of ships in the Sotind, under way;
in a short time saw the boats, upwards of two hundred
sail, all manned and formed in four grand divisions.
I immediately sent off Major Lee express to General
Lee, who was about three miles distant, and without
waiting his orders, turned out the brigade I have
the honor to command, and very luckily for us I
did, as it turned ovLt afterwards, the enemy having
stole a march one and a half m.iles on us. I marched
down to oppose their landing, with about seven hun-
dred and fifty men. and three field pieces, but had
not gone more than half the distance, before I raet
their advance guard, about thirty men; upon which
I detached a captain's guard of forty men to meet
them, while I could dispose of the main body to advan-
tage. This plan succeeded very well as you wiU hereafter
see. The enemy had the advantage of us, being post-
ed on an eminence which commanded the ground we
had to march over. However, I did the best I could,
and disposed of my little party to the best of my judg-
ment; Colonel Reed's on the left of the road; Col-
onel Shepard's in the rear, and to the right of him,

48 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

Colonel Baldwin's in the rear and on the right of Shep-
ards, my own regiment, commanded by Captain
Courtis, (Col. Johonnot being sick and Major Lee
being Brigade Major), bringing up the rear with
three field-pieces of artillery. Thus disposed of, I
rode forward — (oh! the anxiety of mind I was then
in for the fate of the day, — the lives of seven hundred
and fifty men immediately at hazard, and under God
their preservation entirely depended on their being
well disposed of; besides this, my country, my honor,
my own life, and everything that was dear, appeared
at that critical moment to be at stake. I would have
given a thousand worlds to have had General Lee, or
some other experienced officer present to direct, or
at least to approve of what I had done — looking around,
but could see none, they all being three miles from me,
and the action came on so sudden it was out of their
power to be with me ) to the advance guard, and or-
dered them to advance, who did, within fifty yards,
and received their fire without the loss of a man; we
returned it, and fell four of them, and kept the ground
till we exchanged five rounds.

Their body being much larger than mine, and having
two men killed and several wounded, which weakened
my party, the enemy pushing forward, not more than
thirty yards distant, I ordered a retreat, which was
masterly well done by the captain who commanded
the party.

The enemy gave a shout and advanced. Colonel
Reed's laying under cover of a stone wall undiscovered
till they came within thirty yards, then rose up and
gave them the whole charge; the enemy broke and
retreated for the main body to come up. In this situa-
tion we remained about an hour and a half, when they
appeared about four thousand, with seven pieces of
artillery; we kept our post under cover of the stone
wall before mentioned, till they came within fifty
yards of us; rose up and gave the whole charge of the
battalion, they halted, and returned the fire with
showers of musketry and cannon balls. We exchanged
seven rounds at this post, retreated and formed in the
rear of Colonel Shepard and on his left; they then

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 49

shouted and pushed on till they came on Shepard,
posted behind a fine double stone wall; he rose up
and fired by grand divisions, by which he kept up a
constant fire, and maintained his post till he exchanged
seventeen rounds with them, and caused them to re-
treat several times, once in particular so far that a
soldier of Colonel Shepard's leaped over the wall
and took a hat and canteen off of a captain that lay
dead on the ground they retreated from. However,
their body being so much larger than ours, we were for
the preservation of the men forced to retreat, and
formed in the rear of Baldwin's Regiment; they then
came up to Baldwin's, but the ground being much in
their favour, and their heavy train of artillery, we
could do but little before we retreated to the bottom
of the hill, and had to pass through a run of water, ( the
bridge I had taken up before) and then marched up a
hill the opposite side of the creek, where I left my artil-
lery; the ground being rough and much broken, I
was afraid to risk it over. The enemy halted and
played away their artillery at us and we at them, till
night, without any damage on our side, and but very
little on their's. At dark we came off, and marched
to Dobb's Ferry, after fighting all day without victuals
or drink, laying as a picket all night, the heavens over
us, and the earth under us, which was all we had,
having left our baggage at the old encampment, we
left in the morning. The next morning marched over
to Mile Square. I had eight men killed and thirteen
wounded, among which was Colonel Shepard, a brave
officer.

Sunday, General Lee sent for and informed me
there were two hundred barrels of pork and flour at
East Chester, if the enemy had not taken it, would
be glad if I would think of some way to bring it off. I
sent out and pressed fifteen wagons, and at night turned
out the whole brigade, and went down so nigh the ene-
my, we heard their musick and talk very plain and
brought off the whole.

Wednesday, sent out a scouting party, principally
from my own regiment, who met with a party of Hes-
sians, and attacked them, killed twelve and took three

50 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

prisoners. One of the slain was an officer of rank,
on horseback; the horse was taken and brought off.
We had one man mortally wounded of Colonel Bald-
win's regiment.

"Sunday, the enemy struck their tents, and were
on a march in two columns, one to the right and the
other to the left, towards the North River. General
Lee immediately gave orders for his division, which
consisted of eight thousand men, to march for North
Castle, to take the ground to the eastward and north
of them, about fourteen miles distant. We had not
marched more than three miles, before we saw the
right column advancing in a cross road to cut us off,
not more than three-quarters of a mile distant; this
being our situation, eight thousand men on the road
with their baggage, artillery and one hundred and
fifty wagons filled the road for four miles. We then
turned off, and marched by Dobb's Ferry road, and
got into White Plains about ten o'clock Monday morn-
ing, after being out all night. We left General McDou-
gall's brigade posted on a height between the enemy
and us, to cover our march. About twelve o'clock
they attacked him with a heavy column, supported
with twelve pieces of artillery, who pressed him so
hard, he was obliged to retreat, having twenty men
killed and about forty wounded, and wholly from
their artillery.

" I am posted on a mountain, commanding the roads
to Albany and New England; the enemy on one oppo-
site, about one mile distant. We expect an attack
every moment. I don't care how soon, as I am very
certain, with the blessing of God, we shall give them
a drubbing. Where you will hear from me next is
very uncertain."

B

Extract of a letter from "Fort Lee" dated October

19. 1776.

Yesterday's affair was honourable to us. Three
regiments, Glover's, Reed's and Shepard's of Massa-
chusetts, under Colonel Glover who commanded the
brigade, were advanced under cover to receive the
enemy, marching out towards the country. Colonel

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 51

Shepard was well covered under a wall and at thirty
or forty yards gave their grenadiers and infantry an
unexpected heavy fire, then a second and third, which
broke the enemy so much that they ran away as fast
as they could in confusion.

They returned with field-pieces and outflanked
our party, which occasioned our people to retreat to a
short distance, where they rallied well and kept their
ground against their cannonade and numbers. Our
men behaved with remarkable spirit and coolness,
and, I think, are in a good way to do great things.

We lost a few, thirty or forty killed and wounded.
Two deserters from the enemy say they lost one thou-
sand, but really I have the best opinions to believe
they lost one hundred and fifty or upwards, as our
men fired with great coolness at a good distance.
They are trying to surround us. It won't be easy;
and I am mistaken if they don't meet some severe
rubbers.

The following is an extract from a speech of General
Knox in the Massachusetts Legislature :

Sirs: I wish the members of this body knew the
people of Marblehead as well as I do, — I could wish
that they had stood on the banks of the Delaware
River in 1776 in that bitter night, when the commander
in chief had drawn tip his little army to cross it, and
had seen the powerful current bearing onward the
floating masses of ice, which threatened destruction
to whosoever should venture upon its bosom. I wish
that when this occurrence threatened to defeat the
enterprise, they could have heard that distinguished
warrior demand 'Who will lead us on?' and seen the
men of Marblehead, and Marblehead alone, stand
forward to lead the army along the perilous path to
unfading glories and honors in the achievements of
Trenton. There, sir, went the fishermen of Marble-
head, alike at home upon land or water, alike ardent,
patriotic and unflinching, whenever they unfurled
the flag of the country.

52 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

D

The following letter gives an example of the special
service to which the Marblehead regiment was called.
Peekskill, 23d July, 1777.

I this day received orders from his Excellency,
General Washington, to reenforce General Schuyler
with my brigade. You will therefore please release
the party I sent you the other day to man the ships,
which consists of 2 sub'ns, 2 serg'ts, 2 corp's and 34
men. Your compliance herewith will much oblige
yours, etc.

John Glover, B. Gen.

To Gen. Geo. Clinton.

Albany, 22 October, 1777.

Sir: This will inform your Honour, that I have
sent one division of the prisoners, consisting of two
thousand four hundred and forty-two British troops
by Northampton, the other by the way of Springfield,
consisting of two thousand one hundred and ninety-
eight foreign troops. I shall come on to-morrow with
General Burgoyne and expect to be in Worcester in ten
days, where I shall be happy to meet your Honour's
orders. I have endeavored to collect provisions to
serve them to Worcester; you will please to order on
some to meet me at that place. I am with respect.
Your Honour's Most Obed't. Set.,

John Glover.

P. S. The number of prisoners, drivers of wagons
bat-horsemen and the guards are at least six thousand.
I am put to great difficulty to find provisions for them.

To the Hon'ble Jer'h Powell

F

Headquarters Cambridge,
July 3d, 1775.
By his Excellency, General Washington, dated
4 o'clock, P.M., it is ordered that Colonel Glover's
Regiment be ready this evening, with all their accoutre-
ments, to march at a minute's warning to support

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. S3

General Folsom of the New Hampshire forces, in case
his lines should be attacked. It is also ordered that
Colonel Prescott's Regiment equip themselves to march
this evening and take possession of the woods leading
to Lechmere's Point, and in case of an attack there.
Colonel Glover's Regiment to march immediately to
their support.

In the year 1772 the tonage of Marblehead vessels
was more than twelve thousand tons. In the year
1780, the tonage was only one thousand and nine.

In 1772 there were one thousand two hundred and
three voters in town, in 1780 there were only five hun-
dred and forty-four.

At the close of the war there were in Marblehead
four hundred and forty-eight widows and nine hundred
and sixty-six fatherless children.

GLOVER'S ROCK.

In this time of historic reminiscence every Marble-
header will be glad to recall the heroic deeds that made
the nation's birthday a day to celebrate, and especially,
if those deeds were done by their own kith and kin.
And they have a kindly feeling towards any w^ho join
them in honoring those they love to honor.

The Bronx Chapter, Mount Vernon, New York,
Daughters of the American Revolution, on the one
hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle of
Pell's Point, unveiled a fine bronze tablet that they had
placed on the face of that great boulder to commem-
orate the heroic deeds of Glover and his little bri-
gade on that eventful October 1 8 , 1776.

The tablet is three feet six inches long by three
feet wide, and bears the following inscription in large
clear-cut letters:

GLOVER'S ROCK.

IN MEMORY OF THE 550 PATRIOTS WHO,

LED BY COL. JOHN GLOVER, HELD

GENERAL HOWE's ARMY IN

check at the

Battle of Pell's Point,

october 18, 1776, thus aiding washington

in his retreat to white plains

Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds.

ERECTED BY BRONX CHAPTER OF MOUNT

VERNON, N. Y., DAUGHTERS OF

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

OCTOBER 18, 19OI.

GENERAL JOHN GLOVER. 55

The local papers, in their report in relation to the
unveiling of the tablet, made the following statements:

"The occasion was the climax and crown of a year
and a half of preparation and effort on the part of the
chapter. Through their efforts and the generosity of
friends, the desire of the chapter to mark the spot of
this little known, but important battle, has at last been
happily fulfilled.

"It is a beautiful site in Pelham Bay Park. The
unveiling was in the afternoon, under glowing October
skies, and amid a large number of interested people.
Opposite the huge boulder, known as Glover's Rock,
a grand stand was erected for the chapter and guests
of honor. .

"The stand was beautifully draped with national
colors and surrounded as it was with numerous car-
riages filled with an interested audience, faced by a
chorus of fifty public school children, standing close
beside the historic boulder, made a picture long to be
remembered.

"The exercises opened with a chorus entitled Amer-
ica for Freedom," by the school children, followed by
prayer of dedication by Rev. O. R. Lovejoy. The
Regent then introduced the speaker of the day, Mr.
Edward Hageman Hall of New York City.

"Mr. Hall's address was an eloquent plea for me-
morials of the kind just erected by the Bronx Chapter.
He urged silent, but impressive effect upon observers,
both old and young, of such witnesses of glorious dcpds
of the past, and pleaded for a reverent and discrim-
inating memory of the annals of our country as one of
the best guides to future conduct.

"Mr. Hall was listened to with closest attention and
received hearty applause. The chorus then sang
"America," after which the Regent, Mrs. Sherman,
dedicated the tablet in a short address, glowing with
patriotism, and paying a graceful and appreciative
tribute to Mr. William Abbatt, the historian, to whom
the chapter owes so much.

"At the close of Mrs. Sherman's speech, the tablet
was unveiled by Marjorie Sherman and Donald R.
Baker.

56 GENERAL JOHN GLOVER.

"Prolonged applause and murmurs of admiration
greeted the handsome bronze memorial, which is the
work of Paul Cabaret of New York. ( Master Donald
R. Baker is a descendant of Nathan Forbes, one of
Glover's men.) Then the entire audience joined the
children in singing "The Star Spangled Banner." The
benediction was pronounced by Rev. F. M. Taylor."

Thus Bronx Chapter commemorates the heroic deeds
of John Glover and his brigade, the first resistance
offered to British invaders after landing on the main-
land of Westchester County, the first tablet erected as a
Revolutionary memento in the eastern shore of the
county.

Every citizen of Marblehead is grateful to the ladies
of Bronx Chapter for this mark of appreciation of the
heroic character, noble patriotism and military genius
of Glover, so grandly supported by his fearless brigade,
and on that account will read "General John Glover
and his Marblehead regiment in the Revolutionary
War" with a deeper interest, if possible, than they
otherwise would.

Ami